I just can't walk: Woods withdraws from Hero World Challenge due to foot injury

He was set to return to action after a hiatus with the PGA Tour-sanctioned event starting at the Albany Golf Course on Thursday.The 15-time major champion on Monday said that he developed plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of a thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes, in his right foot, while preparing for the annual charity event.It was a tough decision just because I wanted to play.

Legendary golfer Tiger Woods was forced to pull out of this week's Hero World Challenge as he ''just can't walk'' after injuring his right foot.

The 46-year-old golfer last played at the British Open in St. Andrews in July. He was set to return to action after a hiatus with the PGA Tour-sanctioned event starting at the Albany Golf Course on Thursday.

The 15-time major champion on Monday said that he developed plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of a thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes, in his right foot, while preparing for the annual charity event.

''It was a tough decision just because I wanted to play. I can hit the golf ball and hit whatever shot you want, I just can't walk,'' Woods told reporters on Tuesday.

''And so I've had a few setbacks during the year that I still was able to somehow play through, but this one I just can't. I just -- only time can heal this one and stay off my feet and get a lot of treatment done.'' Woods had sustained serious injuries during a car accident in February last year that had shattered bones on his right leg and the plantar fasciitis is related to it.

''Well, as I was ramping up and had to walk more, the worse it got. So when you get plantar fasciitis, that's the -- the worst thing you can do is walk, and I was walking more and more and more, trying to get my legs ready for this event, and I just kept making it worse.

''So had to shut it down and unfortunately, be the host of the event and Ranger Rick out here. So I can do that,'' he added.

It's a huge setback for the golf legend who has played only nine competitive rounds this year.

Woods, however, intends to still compete in two tournaments next month -- a made-for-TV exhibition event and the PNC Championship alongside his son Charlie.

The exhibition tournament is scheduled for December 10, while the PNC Championship will be played a week later on December 17-18. Woods will be able to use golf carts at both events.

''The father-son will be a very easy week, Charlie will just hit all the shots and I'll just get the putts out of the hole, so pretty easy there. But other than that, in the match we're playing in, we're flying in carts.'' Woods said he plans on playing a couple of majors in 2023, adding that there is not much left in his right leg.

''The goal is to play just the major championships and maybe one or two more. That's it. I mean, that's -- physically that's all I can do.

''I don't have much left in this leg, so gear up for the biggest ones and hopefully, you know, lightning catches in a bottle and I'm up there in contention with a chance to win and hopefully I remember how to do that.

''But again, giving myself a chance to get out there again. I didn't -- as I said, I didn't expect to play three majors this year. We were hoping for just the British Open, but I was able to get two more in there, so that was a big positive.'' World number 29 Sepp Straka has been named as Woods' replacement. The World Challenge features a 20-player field and no cut.

''It's been a wonderful relationship since the year 2014 when we started out in Orlando and then, of course, moved to Albany,'' Pawan Munjal, chairman of Hero MotoCorp, said.

''The brand really has had an absolutely wonderful relationship with TGR and Tiger. Not just the brand, but the kind of work, excellent work that the foundation, TGR, is doing, we believe in that.'' PTI APA AH AH

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